DESPITE propping up the league table, Bude very nearly turned the form book on its head last Saturday, as they led their old North Cornwall rivals, promotion chasing Wadebridge Camels, up to the hour mark at Molesworth Field and it was only in the second minute of stoppage time that the Camels made the game safe with an opportunist try from their scrum half Shaun Hawkey, writes Paul Cottle.

This was, by some distance, the Seasiders' best performance of the season and it was in no small measure down to an assured display at fly half from new signing Ollie Rayner, who asked questions of the hosts' defence all afternoon long and linked well with stand-in scrum half Andy Yates.

It is sometimes surprising how good can come from adversity and for Bude, up against a formidable Camels side, fresh from a confidence boosting win the previous week against London One side Shelford (two levels higher in the league structure) in the National Trophy, the day couldn't have started much worse. They lost regular scrum half Ollie Mounce, badly shaken in an car crash on the morning of the game, and centre Tim Green had to drop out with back spasms in the pre-match warm up. This left them with only one replacement and they were indeed fortunate to find veteran Mini Fry a spectator on the touchline, but complete with kit.

The opening stages were pretty frenetic, with both sides playing a high tempo, physical game, but neither able to stamp their authority on the match and it took a slightly fortuitous chip ahead, chase and collect from home fly half Andy Cameron in the 19th minute to break the deadlock, as he touched down for the opening score.

Two minutes later Bude were back level as the ball was moved quickly from a ruck 30 metres out from the Camels' line and Rayner linked smoothly with his inside centre Paul Williams, to put Mark Dennis over in the corner, but it still took some smart footwork from the winger to elude his marker on the outside. From the touchline Rayner's conversion sailed high and handsome and the visitors' two point lead was a well deserved, if a little surprising fillip.

The remainder of the half was scoreless, but the match was anything but dull, as both sides continued to search out each other's weaknesses, but neither able to deliver a killer blow.

After the turnaround, with what wind there was now favouring the home side, the visitors knew they were in for a tough second period. However, within two minutes of the re-start Bude went further ahead when flanker Dave Uglow finished off a perfectly driven maul from a penalty 15 metres out. Again, Rayner's conversion attempt was spot-on and the Seasiders' lead was up to nine points.

Suffering from a hamstring strain, full back Matt Trewin, one of Bude's best performers in this difficult season, was forced to retire and with the replacements bench down to bare bones, Fry took Uglow's place on the flank, resulting in wholesale changes in the threes.

Around the hour mark, Camels hit Bude with a double whammy of tries, first a long range effort from full back Dan Briskham, out-pacing the visitors' defence with his extreme speed and five minutes later, left wing Ollie Hawkey repeated the dose, but with fly half Cameron having an off-day with the boot, neither was converted, so the hosts' lead was the slenderest of margins.

If the Camels' supporters thought Bude would throw in the towel, they were much mistaken and outside centre Ben Couch, having a superb game both in attack and defence, was desperately unlucky not to cling on to an interception, which would have seen him away and in under the posts. Oh that matches are decided on such small margins.

In the closing stages, with the visitors tiring visibly, Camels upped the tempo again and two minutes into stoppage came the killer blow from scrum half Hawkey. After spurning a kick at goal from a penalty award 30 metres out, perhaps mindful of Cameron's previous unsuccessful efforts, the home side opted for a line-out. The drive to the line was held up, but from the resulting scrum, the half-back was not to be denied on the short side.

The final margin of six points frankly flattered Wadebridge and from this defeat Bude can take plenty of positives, not the least of which was their excellent team spirit and also a visibly returning sense of confidence in their own ability.

Next up, as the first half of the season draws to a close, sees a visit to Bencoolen Meadow of Withycombe, who stand two places, but only one point above the Seasiders in the table. A vital game for both sides, although depending on the outcome of the impending league re-structuring spilling out from Twickenham, it may all be rather academic.

Scorers — Wadebridge Camels: Andy Cameron, Dan Briskham, Olly Hawkey, Shaun Hawkey (tries). Bude: Mark Dennis, Dave Uglow, (tries), Ollie Rayner (2 conversions.

Bude: Matt Trewin (Martyn Fry), Olly Denford, Ben Couch, Paul Williams, Mark Dennis, Ollie Rayner, Andy Yates, Barry Lucas, Dan Miles, Barry Sobey (Capt), Matt Williams, John Hiscock, Will Kingdon, Dave Uglow, Tom David (Mark Parsons).

Camels team not named.

Referee: Mr Alan Stuart (Cornwall RRS).